The Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) urged yesterday the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) to immediately release its P673-million calamity fund for drought-stricken fisherfolk in the country.
“Fishers as now suffering from diminishing catch due to the dry spell,” Pamalakaya said, as it lashed at BFAR for “failure to immediately provide adequate relief and assistance to them.”
Pamalakaya secretary general Romy Antazo said that since the onset of El Nino, a fisherman’s catch from bays has declined from 10 to 15 kilos to only about three which is the biggest catch. At times, there’s only empty net to bring home.”
“Fishing during El Nino is more difficult than usual because fish and other marine species migrate and move to deep water to find better temperature. Worse, the El Nino triggers ecological disturbances resulting in massive fish kills and then there is also the problem of red tide,” he added.
He said “El Nino starves rural people especially the fishers and farmers as they are the front line casualties of this prolonged dry spell.”
“The BFAR should address this situation since the calamity fund is already in its hands. It shouldn’t wait for the thousands of fishers to troop and protest in front of its office to demand the immediate release of the fund that is clearly intended for them,” Antazo added.
He noted that at least 100,000 fishermen are now seriously suffering from the effects of El Nino.
